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Hakon sailed accordingly, with a strong fleet; adjusting and rectifying among his Hebrides as he went long, and landing withal on the Scotch coast to plunder and punish as he thought fit. Of Largs there is no mention whatever in Norse books.
But you are welcome to it; and here let it remain till I take it hence. Meanwhile, lend me yours, Stephen, for a truer never fought for Scotland." A glow of conscious valor flushed the cheek of the veteran. "There, my dear lord," said he, presenting it; "it will not dishonor your hand, for it cut down many a proud Norwegian on the field of Largs."
Hakon gathered his wrecks together, and sorrowfully made for Orkney. But poor Hakon's heart was now broken. He went to Orkney; died there in the winter; never beholding Norway more. Hakon was a great Politician in his time; and succeeded in many things before he lost Largs. Snorro's death by murder had happened about twenty years before Hakon's by broken heart.
A storm blew most of his Armada to shore near Largs, where his men were defeated by the Scots. Alexander now brought the island princes, including the Lord of Man, into subjection; and by Treaty, in 1266, placed them under the Crown. In 1278 Edward I. laboured to extract from Alexander an acknowledgment that he was England's vassal.
And they were the children of Roderic my own cousins? This is a strange thing that you are telling me, Elspeth, and I can scarce believe it!" "'Tis none the less true, my lord," said Elspeth. "And Lulach it was then his own father who slew him! And it was her own father whom Aasta fought against at Largs!" "Even so. And pity 'tis that she did not kill him." "Pity indeed," said Kenric.
The bay of Gourock is our best shelter, and thence we can march southward towards Largs, or to whatsoever spot the enemy determine to make their landing place." "'Tis well," said Kenric. "And furnish me with the best horse you can find," added Sir Piers, "for 'tis on horseback that I would fight."
And now he was going forth with intent to kill Aasta's father, believing that to be the only means by which Aasta's happiness and the welfare of his people of Bute and Gigha could be secured. Aasta herself had tried to slay this man; she had fought with him upon the ships at the siege of Rothesay; she had engaged with him hand to hand in the battle of Largs.
But he lost no time in following up the advantages he had gained from the engagement at Largs. In the following year he sent a strong military force against those unfortunate chiefs who during the late expedition had remained faithful to Hakon. Some of the island kings were executed; all were reduced.
But beyond any doubt, such is the other evidence, Hakon did land there; land and fight, not conquering, probably rather beaten; and very certainly "retiring to his ships," as in either case he behooved to do! It is further certain he was dreadfully maltreated by the weather on those wild coasts; and altogether credible, as the Scotch records bear, that he was so at Largs very specially.
After the battle of the Largs in 1263, in which Haco of Norway was defeated, the pretensions of that kingdom were resigned to the Scottish monarchs, for payment of a subsidy of 100 merks.
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